Clip



June 3, 1952 J D 2,599,303

CLIP

Filed May 25, 1949 6 7 7 /0 i I 0 ll Z0 w IN VEN TOR.

Jami Ward,

' BY @M J Q MM w Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLIP James LJWard, Howell, Mich., assignor to May and Scofield, Howell, Mich., a firm Application May 25, 1949, Serial No. 95,313

1 Claim.

This invention relates to clips adapted to attach miniature candelabra and intermediate electric lamp sockets to the branches of Christmas trees, or to other articles which one may wish to decorate or illumine.

The object of my invention isto provide a simple and inexpensive clip, which performs its I function efficiently, and which is of such construction that it may be made by punch press or multi-slide machine operation from a single blank of sheet metal.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved clip, showing it attached to a Christmas tree branch and holding an electric lamp socket;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the clip;

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 33, as indicated in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 5-5, as indicated in Figure 2.

The clip is formed of a blank of lightweight spring metal and it comprises essentially a body, spring arms for receiving the lamp socket, and a spring tongue adapted to be actuated manually and to function as jaw member in cooperation with the body as will be seen presently.

The body 6 is of general L-shape, comprising the vertical member 8 and the more-or-less horizontal member I I, 12 extending outwardly from the crotch IT. The portion I2 is bent downwardly from the portion II at 18.

The upright member 8 of the body has a spring arm I, on each side, shaped to embrace the lamp socket 9, each of these spring arms being provided with a tab ID for the purpose of better securing the socket 9 in place.

A lengthwise tongue is stamped from the body 6, by a U-shaped cut, so that it will, in efiect, be spring-hinged near the outer end of the outwardly extending member of the body, as indicated by the dot-and-dash Hi.. This tongue is L-shaped, comprising the lower portion l5 and the portion I4 bent upwardly at IS. The portion H is provided with teeth 20 for cooperation with the teethZl formed on the upright member 8 of the body 6, said teeth cooperating to clamp the clip to the tree branch I9.

Normally, these parts occupy the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. As indicated in that figure, the parts are manipulated manually so that the tongue is swung back into the position shown in dotted lines, thus to receive the tree branch. Upon release, the inherent tension in the structure will tend tightly to clamp the tree branch between the body and the tongue as indicated in Figure l.

I claim:

A lamp socket holder comprising, in a single piece of spring metal, a first vertically-positioned member, said member being bent intermediate its ends to an obtuse angle to form an outwardly but downwardly directed second member, said second member being bent to an obtuse angle in the opposite direction from the aforesaid bending to form an outwardly and downwardly projecting third member, horizontal arms at the upper end of said first member to receive a lamp socket, and a tongue integral at its base with the outer end of said third member, said tongue being substantially L-shaped and having the vertical leg thereof normally disposed to lie in the plane of said first member and the other leg thereof disposed to lie outside the planes of all of said first, second, and third members, said tongue flexing at its base and adapted to clampingly coact with said first member.

JAMES L. WARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

